US20050189752A1 - Vehicle occupant protection system and inflator - Google Patents
Vehicle occupant protection system and inflator Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20050189752A1 US20050189752A1 US11/044,046 US4404605A US2005189752A1 US 20050189752 A1 US20050189752 A1 US 20050189752A1 US 4404605 A US4404605 A US 4404605A US 2005189752 A1 US2005189752 A1 US 2005189752A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- gas
- inflator
- gas flow
- flow rate
- vehicle occupant
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R22/00—Safety belts or body harnesses in vehicles
- B60R22/18—Anchoring devices
- B60R22/195—Anchoring devices with means to tension the belt in an emergency, e.g. means of the through-anchor or splitted reel type
- B60R22/1952—Transmission of tensioning power by cable; Return motion locking means therefor
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
- B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
- B60R21/16—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags
- B60R21/23—Inflatable members
- B60R21/231—Inflatable members characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
- B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
- B60R21/16—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags
- B60R21/23—Inflatable members
- B60R21/231—Inflatable members characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
- B60R2021/23107—Inflatable members characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration the bag being integrated in a multi-bag system
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
- B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
- B60R21/16—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags
- B60R21/26—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow
- B60R2021/26094—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow characterised by fluid flow controlling valves
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
- B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
- B60R21/16—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags
- B60R21/26—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow
- B60R21/261—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags characterised by the inflation fluid source or means to control inflation fluid flow with means other than bag structure to diffuse or guide inflation fluid
- B60R2021/2612—Gas guiding means, e.g. ducts
- B60R2021/2615—Gas guiding means, e.g. ducts for diverting the gas into a plurality of bags
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
- B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
- B60R21/16—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags
- B60R21/18—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags the inflatable member formed as a belt or harness or combined with a belt or harness arrangement
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R21/00—Arrangements or fittings on vehicles for protecting or preventing injuries to occupants or pedestrians in case of accidents or other traffic risks
- B60R21/02—Occupant safety arrangements or fittings, e.g. crash pads
- B60R21/16—Inflatable occupant restraints or confinements designed to inflate upon impact or impending impact, e.g. air bags
- B60R21/20—Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components
- B60R21/207—Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components in vehicle seats
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R22/00—Safety belts or body harnesses in vehicles
- B60R22/18—Anchoring devices
- B60R22/195—Anchoring devices with means to tension the belt in an emergency, e.g. means of the through-anchor or splitted reel type
- B60R22/1954—Anchoring devices with means to tension the belt in an emergency, e.g. means of the through-anchor or splitted reel type characterised by fluid actuators, e.g. pyrotechnic gas generators
- B60R22/1955—Linear actuators
Definitions
- Japanese Patent Publication No. 2003-312439 discloses a seat belt comprising a shoulder belt potion having an inflatable airbag BG 1 and a lap belt portion having am inflatable airbag BG 2 .
- airbags are inflated use either a pyrotechnic inflator and/or a high-pressure gas cylinder.
- One problem with currently available protection systems is that, because each airbag inflation, either the system requires, a) multiple inflators each plumbed to their respective airbags; or b) one inflator plumbed to each airbag.
- Solution a) may be prohibitively costly, complicated, and unreliable.
- Solution b) may result in differential inflation rates in each of the airbags and/or one airbag completely inflating before the other airbags have completed inflating.
- Japanese Patent Publication No. 2002-145002 discloses an occupant crash protection device having a seat airbag connected to the seat and a belt airbag connected to the seat belt where both airbags are connected to a forked connecting portion of a common inflator.
- the present invention aims to solve at least one or more of these and other problems.
- an inflator has at least first and second gas outputs, the inflator configured to generate gas and to release the gas though the fast gas output with a first gas flow rate and to release the gas through the second gas output with a second gas flow rate different from the first gas flow rate.
- the relative gas flow rates from inflator ink may be adjustable.
- a vehicle occupant protection system comprises: an inflator having at least firs and second gas outputs, the inflator configured to generate gas and to release the a through the first gas output with a first gas flow rate and to release the gas through the second gas output with a second gas flow rate different from the first gas flow rate; a first air bag connected to the first gas output; and at least one of a second air bag and a seat belt retractor connected to the second gas output.
- FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a vehicle seat having a seat airbag, a lap belt airbag, and a shoulder belt airbag according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 2 shows an inflator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 3 a shows a cross section through section A-A of the inflator shown in FIG. 2 .
- FIG. 3 b shows a cross section through section B-B of the inflator shown in FIG. 3 a.
- FIG. 4 shows an inflator according to another embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 5 shows an inflator according to another embody of the present invention.
- FIG. 6 shows an inflator according to another embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a vehicle seat having a seat airbag, a lap belt airbag, and a side airbag according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIGS. 8 a and 8 b show a scat belt retractor connectable to an inflator of the present invention.
- FIG. 9 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an embodiment to an inflator of the present invention.
- FIG. 10 ( a ), 10 ( b ) and 10 ( c ) show side and end views of am inflator valve mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 11 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of an inflator valve mechanism.
- FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a inflator valve mechanism.
- FIG. 13 is an exploded view of the inflator valve mechanism of FIG. 12 .
- FIG. 14 is an end view of the inflator valve mechanism of FIG. 12 .
- FIG. 15 is art end view of an adjustable valve mechanism according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 16 is a cross-section view of an alternative embodiment of an inflator valve mechanism.
- FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of yet another alternative embodiment of an inflator valve mechanism.
- FIG. 18 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of an inflator valve mechanism.
- FIG. 19 is an end view of the valve mechanism of FIG. 18 .
- a vehicle occupant protection system comprises a seat 2 having a back rest portion 4 and a bottom rest portion 6 , a seat belt having a shoulder belt portion 8 and a lap belt portion 10 , a seat airbag 12 connected to the bottom rest portion 6 , a shoulder belt airbag 14 connected to the shoulder belt portion 8 , a lap belt airbag 16 connected to the lap belt portion 10 , and an inflator 18 connected to the airbags 12 , 14 , 16 .
- the system may also include a seat belt retractor 50 (as shown in FIGS.
- the system may also include a side air bag 48 (as shown in FIG. 7 ) located within a side of the back rest portion 4 or with a vehicle passenger side door (not shown).
- the seat airbag 12 is preferably located within or underneath bottom rest portion 6 , and is configured to cause an upper portion of the bottom rest portion 6 to rise upward when the seat airbag 12 is inflated by inflated 18 .
- the rising of the upper portion of the bottom rest portion 6 helps prevent a vehicle occupant, who is being restrained by scat belt 8 , 10 during a vehicle collision, sliding or submarining underneath the lap belt portion 10 .
- Seat airbags are well known in the art.
- the shoulder belt airbag 14 is connected to shoulder belt portion 8 and is preferably covered with a protective fabric or coating (not shown), to protect the vehicle occupant from a burn due to hot gas from the inflator 18 (in the case of a pyrotechnic inflator).
- the shoulder belt airbag 14 expands upon inflation by inflator 18 so as to distribute the restraint force of the shoulder belt portion 8 over a lager area on the vehicle occupant during a vehicle collision this improving safety and comfort.
- the lap belt airbag 16 is connected to lap belt portion 10 and is preferably covered with a protective fabric or coating (not shown), to protect the vehicle occupant from a burn due to hot gas from the inflator 18 (in the case of a pyrotechnic inflator).
- the lap belt airbag 16 expands upon inflation by inflator 18 so as to distribute the restraint force of the lap belt portion 10 over a larger area on the vehicle occupant during a vehicle collision, thus improving safety and comfort.
- Shoulder belt airbags and lap belt airbags are well known in the art.
- Side airbag 48 ( FIG. 7 ) may be located on or within a side of back rest portion 4 of seat 2 , or on or within a passenger side door (not shown). Side airbag 48 is configured to expand upon inflation by inflator 48 so as to provide a cushion to restrain lateral motion of a vehicle occupant during a side vehicle collision. Side airbags are well known in the art.
- seat belt 8 , 10 (as in FIG. 1 ) is configured to releasably connect to a buckle 54 which is attached to a fixed base portion 52 by a movable cable 56 .
- the base portion 52 is secured to the vehicle floor (not shown).
- the cable 56 is movably connected to a seat belt retractor 50 , which is coded to pull cable 56 upon activation of the inflator 18 , so as to retract or pull buckle 54 toward base portion 52 , as shown in FIG. 8 b .
- seat belt reactor 50 includes a piston movable in a piston chamber (not shown), such that inflation of the seat belt retractor 50 by hot and/or pressurized gas from the inflator 18 causes the piston to pull cable 56 in the direction shown in FIG. 8 b .
- seat belt retractor 50 is connected to the inflator 18 shown in FIG. 1 .
- two or more of the following may be connected to inflator 18 : seat airbag 12 , Shoulder belt airbag 14 , lap belt airbag 16 , side airbag 48 , and seat belt retractor 50 .
- the indoor 18 bas first and second gas outputs 20 , 22 , connected respectively to airbags 12 , 16 .
- the gas outputs 20 , 22 may be located at opposite cis of the indoor 18 , and may be configured to direct their respective gas outputs in substantially opposite direction.
- the inflator 18 is configured to provide a first gas flow rate from the first gas output 20 that may be different from a second gas flow rate from the second gas output 22 , so that airbag 12 may be inflated at a different rate than airbag 16 .
- a benefit to such an embodiment is, e.g., if airbags 17 , 16 arc of different sizes, providing a differential gas flow rate, proportional to their size, allows the airbag 12 , 16 to inflate in approximately the same amount of time.
- inflator 18 is capable of providing a ratio of first gas flow rate to second gas flow rate of between 1.5 and 3.0, preferably around 2.0.
- FIG. 3 a which shows a cross section of the inflator 18 in FIG. 2 tough section A-A, one possible embodiment for causing a differential gas flow rate is shown.
- a wide range of possible solutions e.g. mechanical, electrical, electric, pneumatic, hydraulic, etc.
- the inflator 18 has a wall 24 which may be cylindrical in shape.
- Valve portion 26 Inside the wall 24 is a preferably approximately spherical valve portion 26 that is connected to a handle 28 , thus allowing the valve portion 26 to rotate inside wall 24 due to turning of the handle 28 .
- handle 28 is merely an illustration; it may be, e.g., an electrical or pneumatic actuator.
- Valve portion 26 includes a groove or cut-out 30 as shown.
- Valve portion 26 may also be substantially hollow (such as with a substantially spherical inner space) configured to accommodate or hold a quantity of a pyrotechnic chemical 32 , such as a deflagrating decomposition compound (e.g., smokeless powder) or a deflagrating mixture (e.g., black powder).
- pyrotechnic chemical 32 such as a deflagrating decomposition compound (e.g., smokeless powder) or a deflagrating mixture (e.g., black powder).
- Pyrotechnic chemicals for airbag inflators are well known in the
- FIG. 3 b shows a cross section of the inflator 18 shown in FIG. 3 a through section B-B.
- the valve portion 26 is shown in a fully open configuration—i.e., the groove 30 is approximately parallel to the length of inflator 18 —so that upon ignition of pyrotechnic chemical 32 , hot combustion/decomposition gas flows approximately equally to the left side (toward second gas output 22 ) and hie right side (toward first gas output 20 ) of the inflator 18 . (“Right” and “left” are used with respect to orientation of FIG.
- handle 28 could be turned so that groove 30 faces toward the left side of indoor 18 , to increase the gas flow rate to second gas outlet 22 over first gas outlet 20 .
- FIGS. 9-19 disclose further alternative embodiments of inflator valve mechanisms that may be employed to provide a differential gas flow rate and supply.
- the inflator 18 may include a squib 185 .
- the inflator includes gas outlets 20 , 22 through which gas is introduced into the airbag(s).
- the inflator 18 may further include valve mechanisms for controlling the flow of the inflation gas.
- the valve mechanisms may be positioned adjacent one or both of the inflation gas outlets at locations designated by reference numerals 181 and 182 .
- an embodiment of the valve mechanism 100 may include a plurality of disc shaped flow restrictors 101 , 102 .
- Each flow restrictor 101 , 102 may include several openings 105 to it the flow of gas through the restrictors 101 , 102 .
- the valve mechanism is configured to permit relative rotation A between the flow restrictors 101 , 102 to control the flow of gas through the openings 105 .
- one or both of the discs 101 , 102 may be rotated to misalign the openings 105 and restrict gas flow therethrough.
- One or both the flow restrictors 101 , 102 may be configured to rotate.
- FIG. 11 discloses another embodiment of a valve mechanism 200 .
- the valve mechanism may be a rotatable buttery or flop type valve 200 .
- the valve may rotate to an in-line position to put flow out of the inflator gas outlet 22 .
- the valve may rotate to a position which obstructs or blocks the flow of as, such as shown in FIG. 11 for example, in order to further reduce the gas flow out of the inflator.
- Movement of the valve may be driven manually or by a solenoid or motor or any other suitable valve operating mechanism
- FIG. 12-14 disclose yet another embodiment of a valve mechanism according to the present invention.
- the valve mechanism 300 may include a restrictor disc 301 , linking block 302 and pin 305 , and cam plate 303 .
- the mechanism 300 is configured to adjustably restrict gas flow through the openings 307 in the restrictor plate 301 .
- the restrictor disc 301 and cam plate 303 are linked together by at least one liming block 302 .
- Each lin block 302 includes pins 305 that engage openings 307 , 308 in the restrictor disc 301 and cam plate 303 . Rotation of the cam plate 303 will cause corresponding movement in the linking block 302 to thereby change the area of the gas passages through the openings of the plates.
- a camera type adjustable aperture 330 could also be used as the valve mechanism.
- FIG. 16 discloses another embodiment of a valve mechanism 400 , according to the present invention.
- the valve mechanism 400 can include an insert or screw 401 .
- the inset 401 is attached to or threadably connected to a gas outlet 22 of an inflator 18 .
- the insert 401 is configured to adjustably restrict gas now though the gas outlet 22 .
- the insert 401 includes an office 405 extending through the insert 401 .
- the size of the orifice 405 can be varied to adjust the flow of gas.
- a valve mechanism 500 includes a gas outlet 22 that includes a plurality of openings 502 .
- the openings 502 are spaced along the outlet 22 at intervals.
- the valve mechanism 500 further includes a cap 505 that inset over and around the gas outlet 22 .
- the length L of the cap 505 determines the number of openings 502 that a covered, which controls the amount of gas flow out of the outlet 22 .
- the cap 505 can be varied in length L and/or the number and spacing of the open gas 502 can be varied to adjust the flow rate.
- FIGS. 18-19 disclose yet another embodiment of a valve mechanism 600 according to the present invention.
- the valve mechanism 600 may include a pin 605 .
- the pin 605 extends trough the gas outlet 22 .
- the extension of the pin 605 through the gas outlet 22 restricts the passage of gas, as can be seen in FIG. 19 .
- the size of the pin 605 can also be varied to adjust the flow of gas through the outlet 22 .
- the inflator 18 is connected to a control circuitry (not sown) that includes a collision detector (such as an accelerometer), and the inflator 18 is configured to ignite the pyrotechnic chemical 32 upon receiving the appropriate signal from the control circuitry.
- a collision detector such as an accelerometer
- inflator 18 is shown connected to airbag 12 by f gas output 20 , and to airbags 14 , 16 by second gas output 22 .
- inflator 18 is configured to allow an adjustment of the relative gas flow rates to airbag 12 versus to both airbags 14 , 16 .
- a inflator 34 is similar to inflator 18 shown in FIG. 2 , except that it has first and second gas outputs 36 , 38 that arm located on a same side of the inflator 34 , and at configured to direct their respective gas outputs in substantially the same direction.
- an inflator 40 has first second, and third gas outputs 42 , 44 , 46 connected respectively to airbags 12 , 16 , 14 .
- Inflator 40 may be configured to allow an adjustment of the relative gas flow rates from each of the gas outputs 42 , 44 , 46 .
- An advantage to the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is that, in the case where all three airbags 12 , 14 , 16 have different sizes, the inflator 18 can provide corresponding proportional gas flow rates to the airbags 12 , 14 , 16 to thus inflate them in approximately the same amount of time.
Abstract
Description
- This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/547,807, filed Feb. 27, 2004.
- Many vehicle occupant protections systems currently exist, including seat belts, front airbags, side airbags, head side airbags, seat airbags and seat belt airbags (such as lap belt air bags ad shoulder belt air bags). For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2003-312439 (Incorporated by reference herein) discloses a seat belt comprising a shoulder belt potion having an inflatable airbag BG1 and a lap belt portion having am inflatable airbag BG2.
- Typically, airbags are inflated use either a pyrotechnic inflator and/or a high-pressure gas cylinder. One problem with currently available protection systems is that, because each airbag inflation, either the system requires, a) multiple inflators each plumbed to their respective airbags; or b) one inflator plumbed to each airbag. Solution a) may be prohibitively costly, complicated, and unreliable. Solution b) may result in differential inflation rates in each of the airbags and/or one airbag completely inflating before the other airbags have completed inflating. For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2002-145002 discloses an occupant crash protection device having a seat airbag connected to the seat and a belt airbag connected to the seat belt where both airbags are connected to a forked connecting portion of a common inflator.
- The present invention aims to solve at least one or more of these and other problems.
- According to an embodiment of the present inventions, an inflator has at least first and second gas outputs, the inflator configured to generate gas and to release the gas though the fast gas output with a first gas flow rate and to release the gas through the second gas output with a second gas flow rate different from the first gas flow rate. The relative gas flow rates from inflator ink may be adjustable.
- According to another embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle occupant protection system comprises: an inflator having at least firs and second gas outputs, the inflator configured to generate gas and to release the a through the first gas output with a first gas flow rate and to release the gas through the second gas output with a second gas flow rate different from the first gas flow rate; a first air bag connected to the first gas output; and at least one of a second air bag and a seat belt retractor connected to the second gas output.
- It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and am not restrictive of the invention as claimed.
- These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, appended claims, and the accompanying exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings, which are briefly described below.
-
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a vehicle seat having a seat airbag, a lap belt airbag, and a shoulder belt airbag according to an embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 2 shows an inflator according to an embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 3 a shows a cross section through section A-A of the inflator shown inFIG. 2 . -
FIG. 3 b shows a cross section through section B-B of the inflator shown inFIG. 3 a. -
FIG. 4 shows an inflator according to another embodiment of the present invention -
FIG. 5 shows an inflator according to another embody of the present invention. -
FIG. 6 shows an inflator according to another embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a vehicle seat having a seat airbag, a lap belt airbag, and a side airbag according to an embodiment of the present invention. -
FIGS. 8 a and 8 b show a scat belt retractor connectable to an inflator of the present invention. -
FIG. 9 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an embodiment to an inflator of the present invention. -
FIG. 10 (a), 10(b) and 10(c) show side and end views of am inflator valve mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 11 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of an inflator valve mechanism. -
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a inflator valve mechanism. -
FIG. 13 is an exploded view of the inflator valve mechanism ofFIG. 12 . -
FIG. 14 is an end view of the inflator valve mechanism ofFIG. 12 . -
FIG. 15 is art end view of an adjustable valve mechanism according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 16 is a cross-section view of an alternative embodiment of an inflator valve mechanism. -
FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of yet another alternative embodiment of an inflator valve mechanism. -
FIG. 18 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of an inflator valve mechanism. -
FIG. 19 is an end view of the valve mechanism ofFIG. 18 . - Referring to
FIG. 1 , a vehicle occupant protection system comprises aseat 2 having a back rest portion 4 and a bottom rest portion 6, a seat belt having ashoulder belt portion 8 and alap belt portion 10, aseat airbag 12 connected to the bottom rest portion 6, ashoulder belt airbag 14 connected to theshoulder belt portion 8, alap belt airbag 16 connected to thelap belt portion 10, and aninflator 18 connected to theairbags FIGS. 8 a and 8 b) configured to retract and tighten theseat belt FIG. 7 ) located within a side of the back rest portion 4 or with a vehicle passenger side door (not shown). - The
seat airbag 12 is preferably located within or underneath bottom rest portion 6, and is configured to cause an upper portion of the bottom rest portion 6 to rise upward when theseat airbag 12 is inflated by inflated 18. The rising of the upper portion of the bottom rest portion 6 helps prevent a vehicle occupant, who is being restrained byscat belt lap belt portion 10. Seat airbags are well known in the art. - The
shoulder belt airbag 14 is connected toshoulder belt portion 8 and is preferably covered with a protective fabric or coating (not shown), to protect the vehicle occupant from a burn due to hot gas from the inflator 18 (in the case of a pyrotechnic inflator). Theshoulder belt airbag 14 expands upon inflation byinflator 18 so as to distribute the restraint force of theshoulder belt portion 8 over a lager area on the vehicle occupant during a vehicle collision this improving safety and comfort. Thelap belt airbag 16 is connected tolap belt portion 10 and is preferably covered with a protective fabric or coating (not shown), to protect the vehicle occupant from a burn due to hot gas from the inflator 18 (in the case of a pyrotechnic inflator). Thelap belt airbag 16 expands upon inflation byinflator 18 so as to distribute the restraint force of thelap belt portion 10 over a larger area on the vehicle occupant during a vehicle collision, thus improving safety and comfort. Shoulder belt airbags and lap belt airbags are well known in the art. - Side airbag 48 (
FIG. 7 ) may be located on or within a side of back rest portion 4 ofseat 2, or on or within a passenger side door (not shown).Side airbag 48 is configured to expand upon inflation byinflator 48 so as to provide a cushion to restrain lateral motion of a vehicle occupant during a side vehicle collision. Side airbags are well known in the art. - Referring to
FIG. 8 a,seat belt 8, 10 (as inFIG. 1 ) is configured to releasably connect to abuckle 54 which is attached to afixed base portion 52 by amovable cable 56. Thebase portion 52 is secured to the vehicle floor (not shown). Thecable 56 is movably connected to aseat belt retractor 50, which is coded to pullcable 56 upon activation of theinflator 18, so as to retract or pullbuckle 54 towardbase portion 52, as shown inFIG. 8 b. Preferably,seat belt reactor 50 includes a piston movable in a piston chamber (not shown), such that inflation of theseat belt retractor 50 by hot and/or pressurized gas from theinflator 18 causes the piston to pullcable 56 in the direction shown inFIG. 8 b. In a preferred embodiment,seat belt retractor 50 is connected to theinflator 18 shown inFIG. 1 . - In a preferred embodiment, two or more of the following may be connected to inflator 18:
seat airbag 12,Shoulder belt airbag 14,lap belt airbag 16,side airbag 48, andseat belt retractor 50. - Referring now to
FIG. 2 , an embodiment of theinflator 18 is shown. The indoor 18 bas first andsecond gas outputs airbags inflator 18 is configured to provide a first gas flow rate from thefirst gas output 20 that may be different from a second gas flow rate from thesecond gas output 22, so thatairbag 12 may be inflated at a different rate thanairbag 16. A benefit to such an embodiment is, e.g., ifairbags 17, 16 arc of different sizes, providing a differential gas flow rate, proportional to their size, allows theairbag inflator 18 is capable of providing a ratio of first gas flow rate to second gas flow rate of between 1.5 and 3.0, preferably around 2.0. - Referring now to
FIG. 3 a, which shows a cross section of theinflator 18 inFIG. 2 tough section A-A, one possible embodiment for causing a differential gas flow rate is shown. As understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, a wide range of possible solutions (e.g. mechanical, electrical, electric, pneumatic, hydraulic, etc.) may be implemented to cause a differential gas flow rate fromgas outputs FIG. 3 a, theinflator 18 has awall 24 which may be cylindrical in shape. Inside thewall 24 is a preferably approximatelyspherical valve portion 26 that is connected to ahandle 28, thus allowing thevalve portion 26 to rotate insidewall 24 due to turning of thehandle 28. Once again, handle 28 is merely an illustration; it may be, e.g., an electrical or pneumatic actuator.Valve portion 26 includes a groove or cut-out 30 as shown.Valve portion 26 may also be substantially hollow (such as with a substantially spherical inner space) configured to accommodate or hold a quantity of apyrotechnic chemical 32, such as a deflagrating decomposition compound (e.g., smokeless powder) or a deflagrating mixture (e.g., black powder). Pyrotechnic chemicals for airbag inflators are well known in the art, andpyrotechnic chemical 32 may include any of those chemicals known in the art. -
FIG. 3 b shows a cross section of the inflator 18 shown inFIG. 3 a through section B-B. In bothFIGS. 3 a and 3 b, thevalve portion 26 is shown in a fully open configuration—i.e., thegroove 30 is approximately parallel to the length ofinflator 18—so that upon ignition ofpyrotechnic chemical 32, hot combustion/decomposition gas flows approximately equally to the left side (toward second gas output 22) and hie right side (toward first gas output 20) of theinflator 18. (“Right” and “left” are used with respect to orientation ofFIG. 3 b.) It will be easily understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that by turninghandle 28, the relative gas tow rates to the left and right sides of the for 18 will charge. For exile, if thehandle 28 is turned so thatgroove 30 invalve portion 26 faces more in the right direction, thegroove 30 will provide a small opening into the left portion ofinflator 18, so that a lager proportion of the hot gas generated bychemical 32 will flow toward thefirst gas output 20 that thesecond gas output 22. Similarly, if thehandle 28 is rotated a full 90°, so that the groove is approximately perpendicular to the length ofinflator 18, the groove does not provide any flow area through which gas can flow, so that 100% of the gas generated bychemical 32 will flow to and throughfist gas output 20, and 0% will flow tosecond gas output 22. Alternatively, handle 28 could be turned so thatgroove 30 faces toward the left side of indoor 18, to increase the gas flow rate tosecond gas outlet 22 overfirst gas outlet 20. -
FIGS. 9-19 disclose further alternative embodiments of inflator valve mechanisms that may be employed to provide a differential gas flow rate and supply. - As shown in
FIG. 9 , the inflator 18 may include asquib 185. As described above, the inflator includesgas outlets reference numerals - As shown in FIGS. 10(a)-10(c) an embodiment of the
valve mechanism 100 may include a plurality of disc shapedflow restrictors flow restrictor several openings 105 to it the flow of gas through therestrictors flow restrictors openings 105. For example as shown inFIG. 10 (c) one or both of thediscs openings 105 and restrict gas flow therethrough. One or both theflow restrictors -
FIG. 11 discloses another embodiment of avalve mechanism 200. The valve mechanism may be a rotatable buttery orflop type valve 200. As shown inFIG. 11 , the valve may rotate to an in-line position to put flow out of theinflator gas outlet 22. Alternatively, the valve may rotate to a position which obstructs or blocks the flow of as, such as shown inFIG. 11 for example, in order to further reduce the gas flow out of the inflator. Movement of the valve may be driven manually or by a solenoid or motor or any other suitable valve operating mechanism -
FIG. 12-14 disclose yet another embodiment of a valve mechanism according to the present invention. As shown inFIG. 13 p, thevalve mechanism 300 may include arestrictor disc 301, linkingblock 302 andpin 305, andcam plate 303. Themechanism 300 is configured to adjustably restrict gas flow through theopenings 307 in therestrictor plate 301. Therestrictor disc 301 andcam plate 303 are linked together by at least oneliming block 302. Each lin block 302 includespins 305 that engageopenings restrictor disc 301 andcam plate 303. Rotation of thecam plate 303 will cause corresponding movement in thelinking block 302 to thereby change the area of the gas passages through the openings of the plates. - As shown in
FIG. 15 , according to another embodiment of the present invention, a camera typeadjustable aperture 330 could also be used as the valve mechanism. -
FIG. 16 discloses another embodiment of avalve mechanism 400, according to the present invention. Thevalve mechanism 400 can include an insert or screw 401. Theinset 401 is attached to or threadably connected to agas outlet 22 of aninflator 18. Theinsert 401 is configured to adjustably restrict gas now though thegas outlet 22. Theinsert 401 includes anoffice 405 extending through theinsert 401. The size of theorifice 405 can be varied to adjust the flow of gas. - As shown in
FIG. 17 , avalve mechanism 500 according to another embodiment of the present invention includes agas outlet 22 that includes a plurality ofopenings 502. Theopenings 502 are spaced along theoutlet 22 at intervals. Thevalve mechanism 500 further includes acap 505 that inset over and around thegas outlet 22. The length L of thecap 505 determines the number ofopenings 502 that a covered, which controls the amount of gas flow out of theoutlet 22. Thecap 505 can be varied in length L and/or the number and spacing of theopen gas 502 can be varied to adjust the flow rate. -
FIGS. 18-19 disclose yet another embodiment of avalve mechanism 600 according to the present invention. As shown inFIG. 18 , thevalve mechanism 600 may include apin 605. Thepin 605 extends trough thegas outlet 22. The extension of thepin 605 through thegas outlet 22 restricts the passage of gas, as can be seen inFIG. 19 . The size of thepin 605 can also be varied to adjust the flow of gas through theoutlet 22. - The inflator 18 is connected to a control circuitry (not sown) that includes a collision detector (such as an accelerometer), and the inflator 18 is configured to ignite the
pyrotechnic chemical 32 upon receiving the appropriate signal from the control circuitry. - Referring now to
FIG. 4 ,inflator 18 is shown connected toairbag 12 byf gas output 20, and toairbags second gas output 22. In this embodiment, there is no means by which to adjust the relative gas flow rates toairbag 14 versus toairbag 16, butinflator 18 is configured to allow an adjustment of the relative gas flow rates toairbag 12 versus to bothairbags - Referring now to
FIG. 5 , ainflator 34 is similar toinflator 18 shown inFIG. 2 , except that it has first and second gas outputs 36, 38 that arm located on a same side of the inflator 34, and at configured to direct their respective gas outputs in substantially the same direction. - Referring now to
FIG. 6 , an inflator 40 has first second, andthird gas outputs airbags FIG. 6 is that, in the case where all threeairbags airbags - Given the disclosure of the present invention, versed in the art would appreciate that there may be other embodiments and modifications within the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, the features of the present invention set forth above may be included in existing safety systems. For example, the inflators (and other features of the preset invention) describe above could be incorporated into the system disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication 2003/0230872 A1 (incorporated by reference herein in its entirety). Accordingly, all modifications attainable by one versed in the art from the present disclosure within the scope and spirit of the present invention are to be included as further embodiments of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is to be defined as set forth in the following claims.
Claims (25)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US11/044,046 US7413220B2 (en) | 2004-02-27 | 2005-01-28 | Vehicle occupant protection system and inflator |
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US11/044,046 US7413220B2 (en) | 2004-02-27 | 2005-01-28 | Vehicle occupant protection system and inflator |
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EP (1) | EP1568549B1 (en) |
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
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JP4734933B2 (en) | 2011-07-27 |
EP1568549A1 (en) | 2005-08-31 |
EP1568549B1 (en) | 2008-01-23 |
JP2005239129A (en) | 2005-09-08 |
CN1663851A (en) | 2005-09-07 |
DE602005004435T2 (en) | 2009-01-22 |
DE602005004435D1 (en) | 2008-03-13 |
US7413220B2 (en) | 2008-08-19 |
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